The Blog

Clothing tips – what to wear based on where you are going to display your portrait.

I have received numerous inquiries about what to wear for a portrait session. Almost everyone likes to have a professional opinion. The answer is not just a simple suggestion like wear blue. In making your choices you need to consider where you want to display the portrait. Here’s a short video with some clothing tips. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GItdtR1Wlos

For example, Amanda’s lovely room is casual and feels light and airy. Her portrait clothing choices were for cream, blue and kaki colors on a lighter textured background. These colors and even the little girl’s dress pattern work perfectly. In this snap shot you can even see how well the frame goes with the portrait and room. This may seem like a lot of trouble, but it is worth it for a treasured memory to harmonize in your home.

Your business portrait — visual clues to what you do

What does your business portrait say? Does your portrait look like someone you’d want to do business with? Does the message of your portrait match what you want to say about your business or profession? Advertising your image should inspire and persuade your clients and friends. That’s what separates you from the competition and defines the message of who you are. We all want to do business with people we like and trust, so this communication is crucial.

A business portrait that shows what you do

Valerie’s profession is wardrobe consultant. She looks like she’ll listen to you and care about you. She has her own fashion sense and isn’t afraid to show it. Her mission is to help men and women feel confident about their personal image. I believe it!

Lynn is a professional and her image says a lot about the way she feels about her music and harp.

Our executive portrait images are artistically conceived and planned in advance to insure that your finished portrait is a true reflection of your personality on your website, and in social media, newsletters and other marketing materials.

Portrait Composition Principles

Rule of Thirds

Art principles that masters have been using for centuries still hold true. To achieve a dramatic portrait composition place your subject in one of the points that intersect your composition into thirds. Do this by dividing the canvas in thirds horizontal and then vertically and place the subject on one of those points. Try it with your own compositions and see how much better the images become.

It works for this baby.

Balance

The baby photo above takes up a lot of space and adds weight to the left side of the image, so she needs to have an equal object of similar weight on the right side. In this case I used blank space on the right to achieve balance. I’ve used positive and negative space to balance out the composition.

This dentist and lawyer in the next two images have their faces in the upper third of the composition.

Repetition

I’ve also used repetition of color, line and shape to make this composition work of the dentist.

The ceiling structural lines bring your eye right to his face. The windows and chairs converge behind him for a three dimensional effect. The shapes and colors repeat to add harmony and depth.

Contrast

This baby portrait makes use of the rule of thirds. In addition, contrasting elements are used heavily. The rich warm copper fabric and the cool flesh of the baby’s face, the textured fabric verses the smooth skin, the calm expression and the busy fabric, all lead your eye right to the subject.

Many times I’m using multiple design principles to achieve the portraits I’m known for.

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A Testimonial

"Having the pictures means so much to us. They capture the feelings we have in our hearts. Freezing a moment in time of our family’s life is precious, beyond words. The entire experience has surpassed our wildest expectations." Helen Stefan Moreau, Chevy Chase, MDRead More Testimonials